Having loved "The Guest List", I was excited for a new Lucy Foley book and was drawn in by the beautiful cover and interesting title.

But this fell short for me. I almost DNFed it. Vague characters who didn't make much sense in their actions, rich people problems, dragged-out flashbacks and....birds. All that added up to a mess.

This was, again a "What happened" rather than a "Whodunnit" but with characters I didn't relate to, I didn't care as much.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced readers' copy!

2.5/5

If you liked Lucy Foley's other mysteries, you will likely enjoy this one too, and I think I liked it better than her last one, The Paris Apartment. It definitely kept me engaged, and several of the twists I found pretty surprising. My only gripe would be that with so many perspectives, some of them were so unlikeable that I didn't enjoy reading them very much. However I still enjoyed this overall and would recommend it if your a mystery fan.

I really loved The Guest List by Lucy Foley, so I was really excited to read The Midnight Feast. In fact, I put it ahead of a few other books that needed to be reviewed because it sounded like such a great book.

I thought the premise sounded fantastic! A new, posh vacation spot opening up where a manor used to be. The first chapter sucked me right in!

But then it went a different direction than I thought it would.

It was a lot.

It felt like there were a million characters. So many, in fact, that I couldn’t remember who they were from chapter to chapter. I think I had to go back at least five times to remember who Owen was - and that’s not easy using an e-book format, let me tell you!

I really liked the idea of the myths and superstitions in this town, but it was overdone (can’t chop down and elder?). It seemed like it overtook quite a bit of the plot without any real explanation or reasoning.

The journal chapters were the most interesting, but they felt like a YA novel, which made the rest of the book seem childish.

And the birds… I thought that was going to be such a great plot point, but it turned out to just be weird and silly.

Overall, it did not meet my expectations, but I think that many readers are going to love this one.

It is the grand opening of The Manor, a luxury resort in a superstitious town where the locals are anything but receptive to its presence. Beach bonfires threaten guests’ peace as those who believe the land belongs to all, and that something lurks in the surrounding woods. Told from multiple viewpoints, The Midnight Feast features a driven resort owner, her complicated partner, a local staff member desperate to keep his employment a secret, and a guest who doesn’t quite fit in. Messages begin appearing in the form of birds and feathers, bringing local lore into the fold of what had promised to be a successful launch. Backstory is sprinkled throughout to lend historical information that ties the main characters’ stories together, but unfortunately in a way that was hard for this American to follow. I’ve read Australian and UK authors before but the references in this particular book seem more suited to native readers than Americans with less knowledge of UK slang and culture. I had a hard time connecting to the many characters and couldn’t get immersed in any of their points of view. This one was just okay for me, but I don’t think it’s as much because of the book per se as that I wasn’t its target audience. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC of The Midnight Feast.

DNF at 34%. Right from the get-go, this really dragged and wasn't intriguing at all. Frankly, the start was quite boring and didn't seem to lead up to anything. Especially with the multiple changing POVs, it was hard to feel like any plot was developing. I had much higher hopes for this one! Based on reviews, it does seem to pick up later on so I might come back to it at some point.

Francesca Meadows inherits The Manor and turns it into an ultra luxury resort. It sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean on the edge of the woods. Opening weekend is finally here and Francesca and her architect husband, Owen, are ready to welcome guests and have a Midnight Feast. Until a guest from the past shows up to make someone pay for a crime from 15 years ago. Things get crazy and people behave badly until there’s a fire and a murder. Is it the Birds? Folklore says the Birds always find justice.

This was a typical locked door murder mystery from Lucy Foley so if you have liked her previous books I think you’ll enjoy this one. It was a little slow to build but towards the end it was wild and twisty. There are several POVs and different timelines to follow. The past and present keep intertwining in an interesting way. The woods, The Manor and the Birds are all atmospheric and creepy which added to the story.

This was a really unique book and different from the other Lucy Foley books I have read. This books had a dual timeline and incorporates local folklore from the character’s geographical area which added an interesting twist and kept me interested into how things were going to turn out. Overall, I felt it was a little predictable at the end, but I still enjoyed the book and would recommend to others!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read the eARC and review this book early!

Lucy Foley’s latest mystery is a winding tale, jumping around between various timelines and keeping the reader just slightly off-kilter, as is her style. This is a story of a teenage summer gone wrong, a disappearance, secrets, and revenge… with a touch of the potentially supernatural.

I enjoyed reading the characters in this story and the multiple perspective storytelling. Although they were not the most likable of characters, I felt they were well-developed and each had their own motivations. It was interesting learning more backstory throughout the book and seeing it all come together. The mystery, however, was not very exciting. While you’re never explicitly told who is dead until the end, it’s pretty obvious who it has to be from the start. You have a good idea how they died, it’s just a question of why.

Overall, I’d say I didn’t love this mystery as much as Foley’s other locked-room mysteries. While in the first half of the book I did consider not finishing it, it did become more engaging in the 2nd half and overall ended up being an enjoyable read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book was a very slow start! Lots of characters and definitely a slow build, but once Lucy Foley takes off pulling everything together in the second half, I was blown away! Wow! I literally was up til 2:30 am finishing this book because I needed to know how it all played out! Lucy Foley is a master at making everything connect with lots of surprising twists along the way!

This was a atmospheric thriller with multiple POVs, shifts through timelines, inclusion of folklore, and includes some journal entries to make for a dynamic read that kept me interested. At times it did feel like it had too much going on though, and I had felt scattered while reading and had a hard time getting attached to the characters. It was also on the slower side for my taste. Overall, it is still a fun thriller with a unique storyline. Even though this isn't my favorite of hers, it was still enjoyable and I would read more of her work in the future.

Thank you for a copy of "The Midnight Feast." by Lucy Foley. I enjoy this mystery and thriller book with a murder mystery and whodunit. Thank you again

I haven't been the biggest Lucy Foley fan based on the novels of hers I've read, but I think The Midnight Feast is her best! Yes, it is still about whiney rich people, but this was a well-woven story where it honestly felt like all of the characters and strife had a purpose. Well done, Ms. Foley.

Alright, I have a confession: when I first started reading this much-anticipated thriller by the brilliant Lucy Foley, famous for her skillful use of multiple POVs, it took me a bit to get into it. Initially, I thought it might be a slow burn. But here’s the silver lining: unlike "The Guest List," this book has fewer characters, making it easier to follow the central mystery of the unknown victim by navigating between timelines and perspectives.

However, after a few chapters, my view completely shifted, especially with the introduction of the diary entries. I became completely engrossed, turning pages at lightning speed. The last third of the book was mind-blowing. The words seemed to pull me in as my adrenaline surged. The numerous twists caught me off guard, and the climactic puzzle-like ending had me practically jumping out of my seat. The ending was phenomenal and even reminded me of "True Detective: Night Country."

The incorporation of folklore, particularly the legend of the Birds, seamlessly blended into the central mystery, where locals fight for justice against the encroaching wealthy Zenith community, with touches reminiscent of Hitchcock's "The Birds." Until I read this, "The Guest List" was my favorite Foley book, but this one has taken the top spot. From its biting portrayal of the ultra-rich and its sarcastic critique of class differences to the locals' battle for their rights, and the intricate mind games involving the identities of victims and perpetrators, this book offers an incredibly immersive experience.

The story is set around the Manor, an ultra-luxurious estate in Woodland Hutches, designed as a serene escape for its elite guests. Owned by Francesca Woodland, who conceals dark secrets behind a priestess-like purity, the Manor is preparing for an unforgettable summer solstice feast. Her younger husband, aspiring architect Owen, might be bewitched by her ethereal facade and the illusion she's crafted, as he harbors his own dark past that could jeopardize their future.

Francesca’s plans are thrown into disarray by Bella, a mystery guest from her past determined to confront the tragedy she has endured for fifteen years. Meanwhile, nineteen-year-old kitchen helper Eddie is torn between the locals seeking revenge against the Manor's guests and his commitment to his new job, all while managing his dysfunctional family.

As the narrative shifts to the day after the solstice, we meet DI Walker, a cold case specialist, investigating the tragic events at the Manor. Deaths, terrified guests, and a burning Manor lead to a barrage of questions: What happened on the solstice? Who died? Who is responsible? How did the fire start? Readers are challenged to piece together the puzzle to solve the mystery, but nothing is as it seems, and Lucy Foley's clever storytelling will keep you on edge.

Overall, this has become my favorite book by Foley and has the potential to be one of the year's standout thrillers. Highly, absolutely, extremely recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital review copy of this fantastic thriller.

Lucy Foley never disappoints! The Midnight Feast is another gripping thriller, where nobody is what they seem. Hidden identities, surprise connections and murder are all part of this party!

So, if you already happen to be a fan of the author, then I think you’ll enjoy this- because ultimately, Lucy Foley is an incredibly clever writer who knows how to pen a page turner. That being said, this was not my favorite Foley. Putting aside the plot which was a bit of work to keep track of at times, it felt like a clumsy satire of the New Age industry and Pagansim. As both a Pagan and someone who works in this industry, I could appreciate the spirit behind what she was attempting to satirize, but felt it to be under researched and poorly observed on the whole. And given the extreme misrepresentation of Paganism in an increasingly fundamentalist Christian climate, perhaps somewhat irresponsible…but you know how bad pizza is still pizza? Well, a lackluster Foley is still better than most.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley WOWED me in every way.
I have enjoyed all of the authors 'novels and this was my most highly anticipated thriller of 2024, and it DID NOT DISSAPOINT!

I describe this story as a creepy, atmospheric, colorful story filled with local lore and BIRDS. You must not forget the Birds!

We see the opening of the Tome Manor, a new fancy (SUPER FANCY) It’s June 2025, nearly the Solstice and the opening night of Tome Manor is coming soon.

The Tome Manor is surrounded by local woods and the locals are not happy.

Francesca, the owner has little concern for those peons.

There are multiple timelines which work fantastic.

I absolutely LOVED the diary entries that were from a teenager's point of view.
This added so much to the story and the creepy vibe.

As the story unraveled, so did Francesca. I really enjoyed the multiple point of views and time periods.

This is the thriller of the YEAR! Absolutely devoured and enjoyed every single minute!

DNF at 55%. I really wanted to give this one a chance but I’m so tired of how many character POVs this author puts in her books. It is exhausting and the story was so so slow. I lost interest.

I want to start off by saying thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Earc of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley.

This book had its good and bad parts, I really enjoyed the theory of this plot but I found it quite disinteresting. Going back and forth between the characters in such short chapters did not keep me as enthralled as I thought I would be.

Now the birds of the story I did quite enjoy. I really enjoyed the pagan rituals mixed within the storyline, that’s what I wanted more of! I absolutely hated Francesca from the start, you almost wish you could just off her yourself lol.

The ending was the best part of this book, it did tie up everything together and was not expecting some of the reveals. But overall it was a good read just not at the top of my list this year.

REALLY enjoyed this thriller. The back and forth POV as well as entries told by the journal provide very different looks at the events that are or have occurred. Francesca makes me cackle that woman. And the local folklore was so interesting! Just enough to tease it all the way through and keep the mystery and I’m craving more.

The book was a very slow start, but the last hour of the book was fantastic. I've read her in the past and this one just wasn't for me, I'd still recommend this to family and friends